I have a much different take on this survey…

Muck Rack did two surveys of nearly 1,800 journalists to look at Work-Life Balance in Journalism.

The findings will likely not surprise anyone in the business.

Over 50% considered quitting their job this year due to exhaustion or burnout.

Four out of ten journalists have previously left a job due to burnout

64% of journalists say they work more than 40 hours a week.

Almost 70% said that their vacation days have been interrupted by work.

I have often said that a life in TV news is not for everyone. I think when you decide to work in news, you know the hours are going to suck. You know you could work to the point of exhaustion. You should figure you’ll work more than 40 hours.

That’s the business.

Surveys often compare the life of a journalist to normal everyday jobs. There is nothing normal about the job. 80% of those surveyed said they work outside regular business hours at least once a week.

Well, yeah, news doesn’t sleep, news doesn’t take days off. The house fire doesn’t only break out between 9 and 5.

People who can’t handle the stress and work that comes with TV news shouldn’t work in TV news.

I think some believe that a job in TV news means posting TikTok dance videos and showing off the outfit of the day.

That is not TV news.

If you’re not ready to work crazy hours or be called away from vacations or family events, don’t get into this job.

The problem with TV news is that companies need to pay better.

I think if you paid a decent wage and compensated Journalists the way they should be compensated, you wouldn’t see surveys that look like this.

Journalists know what the job entails; they know it is part of their lives and not just a job. But, by paying people so poorly, those Journalists have left the job.

You now have people who “want to be on TV,” and when you ask them to come in at 2 AM to cover the police standoff, they cite burnout and overwork.

The survey answers have changed, because the people in the jobs have changed.

I would love to see someone put together a group of hardworking Journalists, who work sources, break stories, and do worthwhile stories. Do, a survey with them, and I think the numbers will be vastly different.

Media groups need to pay higher wages to get higher quality people. Then. you will see the percentages change dramatically on surveys like this.

Just saying…